Question on TSB: Toyota Sienna Door Welds Causing Clicking
04exaccord
Member Posts: 7
Hello,
I own a 2005 Toyota Sienna XLE Limited. Awhile back, I received an TSB announcement for possible clicking noises due to some of the door welds breaking off.
Well, I am getting very loud clicking noises and I'm afraid I'm affected by the TSB.
Has anyone had repairs done due to the TSB? If so, can someone tell me what it all entailed?
I called one dealer around me and he said it will take the 3 days because they have to send it to a body shop to have them take the doors apart, weld around the doors, then possibly repaint the door due to the paint being affected by the heat from welding.
Just want to get some confirmation from others. I have to be honest, I want to get the problem fixed, but I'm not looking for to getting new paint on the Sienna. After market paint jobs are never as good as the factory paint jobs in my opinion.
Thanks,
Tae
I own a 2005 Toyota Sienna XLE Limited. Awhile back, I received an TSB announcement for possible clicking noises due to some of the door welds breaking off.
Well, I am getting very loud clicking noises and I'm afraid I'm affected by the TSB.
Has anyone had repairs done due to the TSB? If so, can someone tell me what it all entailed?
I called one dealer around me and he said it will take the 3 days because they have to send it to a body shop to have them take the doors apart, weld around the doors, then possibly repaint the door due to the paint being affected by the heat from welding.
Just want to get some confirmation from others. I have to be honest, I want to get the problem fixed, but I'm not looking for to getting new paint on the Sienna. After market paint jobs are never as good as the factory paint jobs in my opinion.
Thanks,
Tae
5
Comments
'Hope this helps,
Steve Zeman
The latch mechanism makes noise, so make sure your noise isn't "normal".
Go to a dealership and ask to see a brand new Sienna, then play close attention to the noises it makes to open a power sliding door in perfect condition, and compare to yours.
If yours is working fine, it may just be unnecessary.
z
I thought I'd just take a moment this morning to register some dissatisfaction with my 2005 Toyota Sienna. Now- for most of my life, I have been a Toyota loyalist.
HOWEVER- I have not been too pleased with the Sienna. First- we had issues with the cooling system. We've had various mechanical issues (tailgate; back up sensors, you name it). Now, this door weld problem. Mechanically- it just doesn't live up to our Toyota expectations. And my chief annoyance complaint- the LOCKOUT on the Navigation and DVD. Yes- I eventually figured out how to override the lockout on the Navi, but what a hassle.
I think Toyota needs to start paying attention to these quality issues and consumer complaints. I love it when it's working well- and yet, I'm not sure I'd buy another.
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f0e6c06/178#MSG178
love the social media. No better way to confirm a car problem then to watch and hear someone else's.....LOL
You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself around...
Cracks me up. The routine to completely disable stability control (say, for an emissions test on a dyno) is similarly crazy.
These are supposed to remain secrets, only for mechanics to troubleshoot, but inevitably the power of the internet takes over, and people find out.
I just bought a 2011 Sienna, and as noted from another post, I now regret that decision. That will be the last Toyota I ever purchase for at least 10 years.
I would go to your local Toyota dealership with a print out of this issue. I would simply say this is a Known Defect, and if they won't fix it, you'll go to your local news station etc. If they don't know how to fix it, HAVE THEM CALL MY DEALERSHIP. I haven't had a problem since they fixed it. Also, any Toyota dealership can look up this problem in their systen. Good Luck.
I performed the same procedure on my 2004 (130,000 miles) using extra hard bolts after drilling out the spot welds. Use only high quality drill bits. Access is not easy with wrenches and drill but certainly do-able.
My rider side front door had the same problem when the car was 2 yrs old, repaired by Toyota with new welds ( my money later refunded by Toyota). So far, 80,000 miles later, their repair is still holding OK.
For such a obvious defect, Toyota is not taking the responsibility. NO MORE Toyota cars in my family!
Before that, however, both power sliding door mechanisms failed. In each case, the carbon steel airline cable -- which the operating mechanism uses to pull the door open and closed -- came flying out of the side of the vehicle when it failed while the door was operating. It turned out the plastic sheath surrounding the carbon steel cable had cracked, allowing moisture and salt to enter, leading to rust and ultimately cable failure. In each case the cost would have been about $2,000 per door to repair. Thus, failures of door components on 3 doors leave me with a total bill of at least $4,500 to repair. Toyota offered no help.
It is interesting, however, that failure of the same carbon steel airline cable -- when supporting the spare tire rather than operating the sliding door -- has led to a manufacturer recall. It's a safety issue, and potential liability exposure for Toyota when those spares fall off on the road and cause accidents.
Now the BIG question does anyone know of a class action law suit?? Seems this issue would be appropriate for such action.
In the mean time I fixed the issue by inserting a bolt with a beefy washer through a hole next to the failed weld spot and tightening it. The hole was previously used by one of the plastic clips holding in the rubber weather strip. The bolt/washer acted like a clamp and held the door arm in place. To do this you have to remove the driver door panel and stick your hand inside the door. It is tricky but it seemed to work.
After a month the makeshift clamp still worked but then Toyota called us back and decided to cover the cost of fixing the weld joint... no cost to us!
just sold the van....no more toyota...
let someone else deal with it!
Took the van to a body shop, welded the door for $200.
Let's see- I got my first Toyota celica in college 1990, and have been a Toyota loyalist since.......well, since the first problems with the Sienna cropped up-
Honda here I come. Oh and I forgot to say- can't wait to have a navigation system that can be used when it's needed- let's see, like when a road is closed and We want to get directions on the fly? Duh.
Since the crack is too large to weld, they say my Extended warranty will not cover it. First they said I could have $500 of it covered, but since it can't be welded and the door must be replaced, no help at all. Not a dime. Wow Toyota! This is my third Toyota van and I am sure it will be my last. I really used to LOVE Toyota, but not any more What the heck is this extended warranty anyhow? Why is this not covered for me, but others are getting it covered with theirs? I bought 100 k 7 years.............Hmmmmm